Homeless with child

[Wolf189]

Hi everyone would love some advice please..
my relationship is breaking down, my daughter doesn’t feel happy in the home we are in.
I moved in with my partner, 1year ago. Things have been ok but had some bad times too.
i do believe he has some underlying mental health issues, the slightest thing can trigger him and he can react badly, shouting, anger and says some nasty things. He does usually calm down but it’s really not nice as my daughter had now witnessed this a few times.
my daughter (10) is not happy here but we have nowhere to go..
I am worried if I reach out for help she will get taken away from me if I declare us as homeless.
i don’t have money to put down a deposit for rent… I work but the COL doesn’t allow me to have savings.
i don’t have any family to stay with either as my mum is sick and dads accommodation isn’t suitable for us to couch surf.
i just don’t know what to do, I went the best for my daughter and I feel broken that I have her in this situation.
any help/guidance would be much appreciated x

Can you ask the home school support worker at your daughter's school? They should be able to help. I'm sorry you're in such a horrible situation but the hssw should be able to refer you to someone/somewhere?

Sounds like you need the help of a refuge

Where did you live before you moved in with partner? Did you keep your deposit saved?

I was renting but had severe disrepair. We made a plan and moved in together. I didn’t expect it to go this way

Please contact womens aid

You won't have your child taken from you as homeless, you should be supported by your local council. Lots of people have been in this situation, call the homeless team at your council.

Your daughter won't be taken away just because you are homeless. Im so sorry that you're in this position, but do please contact Womens Aid, Shelter and your local council. You may have to live in temp accommodation for a bit, but you'll both be safe and away from that pathetic man. You'll be showing your daughter a good example as well- she shouldn't feel trapped in a bad relationship.

There are thousands of families with children across the country who declare themselves as homeless, and don't have any social services involvement, let alone have their children removed. Please speak to women's aid or Shelter for advice if you are worried.

They won't take your child away.

They'll put you in a B&B until somewhere suitable can be found.

Thank you all so much…
do you know if I would still be able to work and my child still attend the same school? I really love my job and she loves her school too

Declaring yourself homeless to the council
when you have a primary school aged child just means that they have a responsibility to put you in emergency accommodation. You will be classed as having a priority need for housing because of your child. Having said that, depending on where you live that doesn’t mean you will get a nice two bedroomed flat. It’s more likely that as PP said you will be put in a b and b or hotel (lots of people are put into emergency accommodation in Travel Lodges under my council). They won’t take away your child just because you become homeless.

Find out the policy for your local council- there will be a protocol to follow in declaring yourself homeless and they will sort you out from there.

It depends on where you live as to how much accommodation is available. Where I live there’s a huge housing shortage so people are put wherever there’s a space and that might be outside the borough. You are expected to change schools if needed unless your children are sitting GCSEs that year or similar. Keeping your child at the same school won’t necessarily be a priority when rehousing you but as I say, it really depends on where you live.

Nobody will stop you working, but you are expected to contribute to the rent if you are working and because temp accommodation is much more expensive than regular renting you might find it in unaffordable for any length of time. If that's the case they usually work with you to find a private rent as quickly as possible because it will be cheaper for you.
In most councils they'll put you where they've got space and it won't necessarily be easy to get to school- but it's temporary. Most people don't move schools but it may be a few bus rides until you find something longer term.